Two former Senate Presidents and senior leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Adolphus Wabara and Bukola Saraki have disagreed sharply over whether the party’s national convention scheduled to begin tomorrow in Ibadan, Oyo State, should proceed.
Wabara, who chairs the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), insists the convention must hold as planned, while Saraki warns that going ahead despite ongoing legal disputes will deepen the crisis already troubling the opposition party.
Saraki: Convention Will Worsen PDP Crisis
In a statement issued after a meeting with the BoT Reconciliation Team led by Amb. Hassan Adamu (Wakili Adamawa), Saraki urged the party to suspend the convention and set up a Caretaker Committee to stabilise the PDP.
The former Kwara State Governor said the event had been overtaken by political and legal controversies, warning that its outcome might be invalidated due to conflicting court orders.
“It is clear that going ahead with the National Convention in Ibadan on November 15–16, 2025, will only serve to further fuel the present crisis,” he said. “Therefore, going ahead with the convention as scheduled is a waste of efforts. It does not have my support.”
Saraki argued that the uncertainty around the legitimacy of the exercise made it risky for the party.
“As it stands, there are conflicting court orders concerning the validity of the scheduled convention. As a result, there is no assurance that the conduct and outcome of the convention will stand,” he stated.
He further cautioned that political conflicts cannot be resolved through court processes alone and urged party stakeholders to embrace dialogue.
Saraki added that his stance was driven by a responsibility to protect the political interests of his supporters and ensure the stability of democracy.
He advised that a Caretaker Committee be constituted within two days to manage party affairs and restore confidence among members.
Wabara: All Party Organs Have Agreed — Convention Will Hold
However, Wabara rejected calls to halt the convention, saying all major organs of the PDP — including the Governors’ Forum, National Working Committee (NWC), and the BoT — had already endorsed holding the exercise.
Speaking at his Abuja residence during the presentation of the BoT Reconciliation Committee report, Wabara said only a court order could stop the convention.
“It is absolutely practical for us to go to the convention,” he said. “All the organs of the party had agreed to go ahead — the Governors’ Forum, the NWC, and the Board of Trustees.”
Wabara also criticised some recent court orders, saying they appeared to contradict existing Supreme Court pronouncements.
“You don’t make all kinds of orders when the Supreme Court has deliberated on a matter,” he said. “As far as the organs of the party are concerned, the convention will hold.”
He dismissed claims that the BoT intervened too late, describing the party’s internal challenges as “self-inflicted,” driven by personal political ambitions stretching toward 2031.
Wabara emphasized that neither he nor senior BoT members had personal political interests, adding that their focus was solely on keeping the party alive and functional.
“Opposition does not mean taking over power,” he added. “Opposition is to guide the ruling party to do the right thing, provided criticisms are objective.”
He also lamented financial challenges that hinder the BoT’s ability to enforce its mandates, including post-election reconciliation efforts.
Reconciliation Committee Submits Report
Presenting the committee’s report, Secretary Chief Mike Oghiadomhe said the team conducted extensive consultations with key stakeholders — including the FCT Minister, PDP Governors’ Forum, NWC, suspended national officers, and Dr. Saraki — before drafting its recommendations.
“We believe we have tried to connect all the issues plaguing our party today,” he said. “Our recommendations offer a roadmap for sustainable and progressive party administration.”
